BUIS in combat? How often has your optic failed?

[WalterJones]

My name is Walter and I'm an irons-aholic...there I said it.

I decided to put this question here because I'd rather not have all the commentary from mall ninjas and armchair commandos.

For my brothers and sisters who've seen action in this century, how often have you, or known soldiers and Marines who have had to, use back up irons due to optic failure during a deployment?

Back in my day optics were issued sparsely if at all. I've also had my experiences and probably a little PTSD along with it.

Consequently irons are pounded in to my brain and I can't let go. I want to do a couple of AR uppers and just run quality optics, put the cost of good irons in to better glass.

But the OCD part of my brain won't let me sleep at night unless all irons are working properly and zeroed. Doesn't matter if it's only 1 rifle out of 10 that isn't up to par, it'll bug the crap out of me till I get to the range. The nature of OCD being a big PITA, it also doesn't matter that the only time I use irons is checking zeros to make sure my OCD is assuaged. And God help me if I have a weapon that doesn't have irons yet, a whatever stage of the build. It also doesn't matter if it's just a varmint gun and they aren't shooting back...today...cause they might start shooting back tomorrow

So I'm thinking, that if you guys have rarely, if at all, ever had to used your irons instead of optic, maybe I can let go a little bit. Or if it is common, back up my craziness form the experiences of others.

As a secondary useful piece of info, if you suffered optic failure, could you state the make and model, as well as any info you care to share?

[etwinam]

Buy a good optic and it won't fail. I have an MRO & Eotech and I have never had an issue with either of them. In fact I don't even run BUIS on either of my Ar's anymore. I don't need them.. they're just empty weight.

The way I look at it is Irons are for handguns and 1x Red dots are for close range rifles, magnified Scopes for long range.

I have lots of military buddies that still tell me how many times they have qualified Expert with irons to 500 yards and I have too but my theory is I can light a room with a match or I can use technology and light it with a flashlight, why wouldn't I? Why make things harder when there are better options now.

Anyways, good luck.

[WalterJones]

...but my theory is I can light a room with a match or I can use technology and light it with a flashlight, why wouldn't I? Why make things harder when there are better options now.

Thanks for the insight. I'm naturally resistant to new technology. I can completely understand why the generals were hesitant to get those new fangled repeaters when the trap door rifles workes great and less chance of failure

But I'm going to try to let go and get with the times.

[PyroFox79]

I've seen acogs fail. The seal breaks and they fog up immediately. Can still kinda use it but it's basically useless.

Then again nothing is Marine proof.

[mach]

[BarrettM99]

I can only speak of a few different types of optics and my unique experience. Through different types of terrain and temperatures, neither my ACOG, Aimpoint, nor EO Tech have ever failed.

Some teammates did experience failure with the EOTechs however.

As for the ACOG, I did have to run a piece of 100 mile an hour tape over the illumination in order to control the brightness of the reticle.

[jcourson]

I've seen acogs fail. The seal breaks and they fog up immediately. Can still kinda use it but it's basically useless.

Then again nothing is Marine proof.

The only time I have seen an acog fail is when someone tried to 'adjust' it too far. One of my buddies ran the optics shop though, and he did mention there being more failures than that. Like you said, nothing is Marine proof.

[Bainter1212]

In my opinion, for HD purposes, iron sights at night is not an optimal situation. My Eotech, turned down to the dim setting, is a huge advantage.
This is coming from another iron sights proponent....my A4 clone is my favorite AR to shoot. But I don't use it for HD.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

[tnlrat37]

Had my rifle fail, M16A2 blew up but the optic worked great to help direct fire of other weapons on target though. I was the only guy in my platoon with an optic (1995) ACOG prototype, very durable.

[WalterJones]

Thanks guys, your experience helps alot.

So I think I'll let go a little and keep the back ups serviceable and zeroed on my primary go to weapons and not get so uptight about my just for fun weapons.

Can't carry them all in a SHTF moment anyway, right?

[PyroFox79]

The only time I have seen an acog fail is when someone tried to 'adjust' it too far. One of my buddies ran the optics shop though, and he did mention there being more failures than that. Like you said, nothing is Marine proof.

One thing I remember is the optics shop didn't work on acog. They sent them to trijicon for warranty repair. But I'm sure they saw every possible failure. I personally habe seen 3 fail but it was more likely due to just getting banged around and hit just right.

[Saym14]

never served. thanks to you that have. my two cents.

but I've run an Eotech in 3 gun and carbine matches for almost a decade and never had an issue other than having to change batteries. the red dot is WAY faster in close quarters.

[Kwikvette]

All 3 times to the sandbox, I've never had my Acog's or Leupy fail.

For that reason, I run several on my recreational rifles. Granted, I have higher end scopes on other rifles, but the Acog's and my Leupold's will never leave my stable.

[alexisjohnson]

The higher quality optics probably will fail just as often as iron sights. You have to keep in mind that a decent blow can bend irons out of alignment. They're not bulletproof...

[cal3gunner]

On a hunting trip where we went in on horseback. My horse hit a tree hard while freaking out not wanting to cross a bridge. The leather strap on the scabbard broke and the rifle got flung down onto some rocks. I didn't trust the gun to be zeroed and we had to test it in the field. That gave our position away to the deer but I found out the gun had definitely lost zero. If we wouldn't have checked I probably would have found the biggest deer ever and missed by a mile and been branded as having buck fever for life.